Tide conditions for San Clemente surf spots
San Clemente, California
Updated Refreshed hourly · Tide data refreshes every 30 minutes from NOAA stations.
A foot of tide swing can shut down one break and light up another in San Clemente. These 6 spots all respond differently - some need the low to expose the bar, others clean up on a rising mid.
Current Tide
Next Low
03:00 PM
0 ft
NOAA tide data via Cached Tide Data
Tide Chart
7-Day Tide Schedule
| Day | High 1 | Low 1 | High 2 | Low 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 8:00 AM(5.1ft) | 3:00 PM(-0.0ft) | 9:00 PM(4.7ft) | -- |
| Tomorrow | 9:00 AM(4.7ft) | 3:00 AM(0.5ft) | 9:00 PM(5.0ft) | 3:00 PM(-0.2ft) |
| Wed, Apr 1 | 10:00 PM(4.9ft) | -- | -- | -- |
| Thu, Apr 2 | 10:00 AM(4.3ft) | 4:00 AM(-0.1ft) | 10:00 PM(5.2ft) | 4:00 PM(0.8ft) |
| Fri, Apr 3 | 11:00 AM(3.7ft) | -- | -- | -- |
| Sat, Apr 4 | 11:00 PM(4.8ft) | 5:00 AM(-0.0ft) | -- | -- |
| Sun, Apr 5 | -- | 5:00 PM(1.9ft) | -- | -- |
Today
Tomorrow
Wed, Apr 1
Thu, Apr 2
Fri, Apr 3
Sat, Apr 4
Sun, Apr 5
Beach Tide Preferences
Each beach performs best at a specific tide range and direction. Plan your session around these windows.
Top spot recommendations
Sort your quiver, choose the right tide window, and jot down a backup in case the main peak gets stacked.
Featured Beaches
6 spots
204s
Beginner friendly204s is a beach break in San Clemente, CA. It is suited for beginner-intermediate surfers. Watch out for rip currents, pollution.
Old Man's (SanO)
Beginner friendlySan Onofre State Beach represents California's surf culture birthplace, the "Waikiki of California" with gentle longboard waves rated 6/10 for consistency but 4/10 for performance.
Poche Beach
Beginner friendlyPoche Beach is a beach break in San Clemente, CA. It is suited for beginner-intermediate surfers. Watch out for rip currents, pollution.
San Clemente Pier, Northside
AdvancedSan Clemente Pier, Northside is a jetty break in San Clemente, CA. It is suited for intermediate-advanced surfers. Watch out for rip currents, rocks, strong currents, pollution.
San Clemente State Beach
Beginner friendlySan Clemente State Beach is a beach break in San Clemente, CA. It is suited for beginner-intermediate surfers. Watch out for rip currents, pollution.
T-Street
Beginner friendlyT-Street (Trafalgar Canyon) provides year-round consistency rated 7/10, working on any tide with southwest swells (160-250°, center 215°).
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What to focus on today
- Annotated tide windows tied to specific breaks
- How lunar cycles reshape sandbars through the season
- Safety notes for rip-prone outbound tides
- Session planning tips for dawn patrol versus sunset
Frequently Asked Questions
About surfing in San Clemente
- Tide preferences vary by spot in San Clemente. Generally, incoming mid-tides work well for most beaches, offering a good balance of wave shape and power. Check individual spot guides for specific tide recommendations.
- Tides significantly impact surf conditions in San Clemente. Low tide can expose reefs and sandbars creating hollow waves, while high tide often creates softer, more forgiving waves. Mid-tide transitions typically offer the most consistent conditions.
- You can check tide charts for San Clemente on Quiver's surf forecast pages, NOAA tide predictions, or various surf forecast apps. Quiver provides real-time tide information integrated with surf conditions for accurate session planning.
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